ASU Candidates

The three finalists vying to become the next president of Alabama State University will be interviewed this week. ASU officials said the interviews will be conducted Friday in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. State Senator Quinton Ross of Montgomery will be the first candidate to appear before a presidential search committee. Gwendolyn Boyd will follow Ross and Army Brigadier General Samuel Nichols will be final candidate to appear before the panel.

Runoff Elections

A runoff will be necessary to decide the special election for Alabama House District 31. Mike Holmes, the former chairman of the Elmore County Republican Executive Committee, led yesterday's Republican primary, but will be in a runoff January 28th with Wetumpka car dealer Jimmy Collier. The District 31 seat, which encompasses parts of Elmore and Coosa counties, was vacated by Barry Mask of Wetumpka.

Another special election was held Tuesday in Birmingham where Democrats Anthony Johnson and Arthur Shores Lee will be in a runoff to decide the Alabama House 53 seat. The House seat became open when veteran Democratic legislator Demetrius newton died in September.

Bank Fraud

A 30-year-old Montgomery man faces a lengthy prison term after he pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from First Tuskegee Bank. U.S. Attorney George Beck said Christopher Todd Jones appeared in Montgomery Federal Court Tuesday to plead guilty to a single count of bank fraud. Beck said while working for the bank Jones set up fictitious credit card accounts which he used to steal $580,000 from the bank. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

Payday Loans

The Montgomery City Council has extended a moratorium on so-called pay day loans and title pawn stores in Montgomery. The Montgomery Advertiser reports today the Montgomery City Council extended the moratorium for another six months. In September, the city council okayed a three month long moratorium. Councilman Charles Smith initially raised the issue because he was concerned about the concentration of pay day loan and title pawn shops on Atlanta Highway. Smith previously said he wants to determine if the businesses have a negative impact on economic growth.

Guilty Plea

The last defendant to plead guilty in the 2011 murder of Ralph "Critterman" McNeill, a popular animal trapper, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. 25-year-old Kendall Riley was given the prison term last week. Riley's cousin, Jermey Riley was also sentenced to 25 years. A third defendant, Serena English was sentenced to life in prison. A fourth individual, former physician David Nash was convicted in August of capital murder and he awaits a sentencing hearing. The Montgomery Advertiser reports that attorneys representing Nash have asked Montgomery Circuit Judge Charles Price to overturn Nash's conviction. A hearing will be held Friday.

Tax Fraud

Federal prosecutors say a Montgomery man will spend more than four years in prison in a tax fraud and identity theft scheme. Officials said Tuesday Clarence Hicks was sentenced to 57 months in prison, must serve three years of supervised released and is ordered to pay more than $210,000 dollars in restitution. Officials say Hicks was paid more than $210,000 from the IRS in false tax claims.